Men Shed Trip To Barcelona

Extracts from a diary about a trip to Barcelona April 2024.

DAY 1 OBRFC MEN SHED XV team left Dublin on Sunday April The Ryan air flight was pleasant only 2.5 hours The Hotel Rec was perfectly located beside the Barcelona Arc de Triumph in a very nice area and very central in Barcelona The room was quite modern but very comfortable and had all necessary amenities. There was a restaurant and bar on 7th floor serving a very good breakfast and food drinks during the day.

DAY 2 The XV tourists went on the bus tour of Barcelona. Fantastic viewing only way to see any city. Absolutely spectacular. A small group guided walking tour organised by the Hotel encompassed a trip to a local Art Gallery followed by a trip to tapas bar with drinks. And ended with a karaoke bar by which stage we were in the mood to sing. A great first night and great value.

DAY 3 TUESDAY The group departed the hotel on foot to the La Segrada Familia Basilica First Impression, imposing building, with the concrete columns and the steel rebar stretching to the sky. As we gathered with our tour guide we discovered this was the fly over extension that Antoni Gaudi designed back in 1926 not started nor expected to be completed before 2075! Work Continues daily and the Church spent 100 million last year on this long lasting project.

DAY 4 WEDNESDAY Again excellent breakfast staff very attentive. Trip to Monsarrat organised by Des Crean. Group visited the spectacularly beautiful Benedictine Monks mountain retreat by bus (1.5 Hours) North West from Barcelona. The main Basilica hosts the Virgin of Montserrat, which over the years attracts thousands of visitors and pilgrims. Main peaks Sant Jeroni, Montgros & Les Agulles blend in with the statue of the Black Madonna. Just over 50 monks still live in the Monastery, many of them work including lecturing in the Universities of Barcelona. The Monastery was well prepared for visitors, a good visitor centre, with many eatery’s and Holy places. We took a slow moving mountain train up a very very steep mountain. the journey gave spectacular views of both the mountan as we ascended and of the valleys below.

The evening was spent in a splendid Restaurant organised by the Gannon Gang. The food was excellent and company as always great craic on the last night.

DAY 5 THURSDAY Fab breakfast and easy check out. Some collected artifacts from the gallery we were brought to on our tour previously Coach trip to the airport and then RYANAIR flight home which was excellent.

CONCLUSION Thank you particularly NIALL, DES BERCHMANS, and KILLESTER TRAVEL. Roll on the next trip!